Given that our inclement weather makes drying clothes on a line all year round nigh-on impossible, the Great British public has two choices: a cheap-to-run heated clothes airer, or a convenient but energy-intensive tumble dryer. Or so you may think.
In fact, the best tumble dryers these days are decidedly low-energy, costing around 60p per load. Heated clothes airers only cost around 10p per hour to run, but they often take five hours or more to dry clothes. So the difference really is slight.
If you choose a dryer, the tricky part is weighing up how much to spend. Tumble dryers at the affordable end are less energy efficient, so could cost you more in the long-run. Heat pump tumble dryers are more expensive up-front, but don’t require so much electricity to generate heat, making them more energy efficient and cheaper in the long-run. (You could also consider a space-saving washer-dryer, but the performance won’t match the specialist tumble dryers or washing machines.)
If that sounds complicated, we’ve broken down the difference between heat pump, vented and condenser tumble dryers below and asked experts for advice and their own recommendations of specific tumble dryers. If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at our top five:
The best tumble dryers of 2024, at a glance
What are the different types of tumble dryers?
Heat-pump operated tumble dryers are the most eco-friendly option, according to Currys’ senior category manager Lauren Hartshorn. “They use special technology to dry the clothes, which will help to save money on electricity bills.” Essentially, heat is harvested from air that has already been used to dry the clothes and re-used, rather than being vented away with the moisture.
Vented tumble dryers are the most affordable, says Hartshorn. “They expel warm air through a window hose or an external vent,” says Hartshorn. But a vented tumble dryer needs to be placed against a wall or window to expel the air. Most come with a venting kit, though you may need to get the machine installed by a builder.
Condenser tumble dryers are the midrange option. “These are often considered middle range in terms of affordability,” Hartshorn says. “With no externally-vented hose requirements, consumers have the freedom of installing the machine in any well-ventilated room. It’s worth noting, though, that this type of tumble dryer collects condensation in a container beneath the machine which needs to be regularly emptied.”
For more information on the pros and cons of different types of tumble dryer and a video explaining how each works, skip to the FAQ section below.
How we chose the best tumble dryer
To help you decide on the best tumble dryer for you, I asked the advice of AO’s tumble dryer expert Gwil Snook and appliance expert at RDO Kitchen and Appliances Matt Ayres. They advised me on the best tumble dryers, based on factors like energy rating, number of programmes and drum capacity.
I also took into account how noisy they were and, as with all home appliances (like air fryers and microwaves), I considered how easy each is to use and the value of any warranties or guarantees. Here are our top picks, starting with the appliance experts’ favourite…
Best tumble dryers
1. Hotpoint ActiveCare NTM119X3EUK
Best tumble dryer overall, 10 out of 10
We like: low energy and gentle on clothes
We don’t like: its fairly basic appearance